Anna Photos

US director Abel Ferrara (L) arrives with his daughter US actress Anna Ferrara, his wife Moldovan actress Cristina Chiriac-Ferrara and US actor Willem Dafoe during the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France on May 20, 2019. (AFP)

Social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare threatened that he will return his Padma Bhushan award to the President if the Centre does not concede to his demand for Lokpal and Lokayukta. Speaking to media, the activist said he arrived at the decision due to the grim scenario prevailing in the society and country. "I will be returning my Padma Bhushan award to the President. I did not work for that award. You only gave me that while I was working for a social cause and the country. If the country or society is in this condition, then why should I keep that?" he asked. The 81-year-old anti-corruption crusader was awarded the third highest civilian honour in 1992. Anna Hazare is on indefinite hunger strike for the last five days at his native village to push for his demand of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta in states. He said that BJP used him to win the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. "Yes. The BJP used me in 2014. Everybody knows that it was my agitation for Lokpal that catapulted the BJP and also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to power. Now I have lost all regards for them," Hazare told the media in his Ralegan-Siddhi village. He said that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi "is only misleading the people of the country and leading the country to autocracy".